Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-06-17
AT A SMOKING CONCERT.
The Solemn Entertainment of the Prince
OF Wales

u Z Crawford's London Notes in y. Y. World
was ted that this was one of the places
where the Prince of Wales came and
unoent and freed himself from all form-
allty. LII was at these concerts that he pls-
ced himself on perfect footing of equal
lty with the members of the society. It
was mere that he came and sat among
them IN tree and easy way, drinking his
orsuoy and soda and smoking his cigar
during the performance as If he was an
ordinary visitor. 1t would hardly be cor
rect to say that this represents the posit-
ion OF the Prince of Wales at these con-
certs. don't see how more formality
could be extended to any one, and the
equality spoken of was not even suggest
ed. In the first place he came in by a side
entrance, attended by his familiar, the
Hon. H. Terwhitt Wilson. As he solemn
ly entered, the entire audience arose. as
does the Congress of the United States
at the entrance of the President elect
upon Inauguration day. This audience
stood In respectful attitude until the
Prince of Wales had advanced into an
open square at one end of the hall Just in
front of the orchestra. This open square
was lined about with sofas and seats with
table IN the centre upon which were
two vases filed with flowers. The prime
took seat upon the sofa in the centre,
facing the orchestra. Until he sat down
the audience remained standing. No one
present was expected to enter this square
except upon invitation of the prince, IN
less he were high official or of q rank
which entitled him to q familiar social
relation with the prince. There was q spe-
cial table just beyond this square, against
the wall, fer the Prince of Wales refresh
ments. His own servant, in red livery,
stood against the wall all evening ready
to respond to the slightest gesture of his
master. This little square where theprince
sat was filed up soon efter his arrival
by prominent and distinguished men.
The lord chamberlain, who is never far
away from the Prince of Wales, sat at his
left and Mr.. Wilson upon his right No
one of the dignataries inside the square
spoke to the Prince of Wales unless he
first addressed them. Every one present
appeared to follow the movements of the
bored prince with as much intrest as if he
had never seen him before When he
drank brandy and water a great thirst
seized upon every one present. He at
first smoked a large black cigar. Then
SNOiS cllS chIoAGN q GlS dI. L dlu uOJ see
then single cigarette or pipe. Later i'll
the evening the prince began smoking
cigarettes. Then cigarettes blossomed all
through the hall like flakes of snow. 1t
was also observed that the Prince of
Wales wore no watch chain on his waist
coat, During the evening conspicuous
watch chains mysteriously disappeared
so that when the audience broke up there
bnr ~ +ab al, -, L.
prince also led the applause. No one pre-
sumed to applaud unless he first approx
ed. He would cry out at different times
Good, good!' and then the audience
would become frantic in its approval.
During the wait between the first and
second part the prince sent far Herr
Schoenberser, pianist who had pleased
him very much, and personal com pliment-
ed him. The pianist fairly writhed with
ecstacy as he bowed again aad again be-
fore the prince. If ne ever arrives at
heavens gates and Is admitted without
any personal investigation into the abode
of the blest, he will never be happier
than he was that evening. The prince
appeared to have a real fOndness for the
music. He followed with unlagging inter
est the rendering of every number, and
a real appreciation in his applause and
approval. Yet it was 50 funny to watch
him and his sudience about him and
think that this-what a number of Eng
lish gentlemen had told me-was where
the prince came to unbend and to be-
come zone of the boys" as member of
the society described it. l never saw any
one surrounded with more formality, and
there was not the faintest suggestion of
familiarity from beginning to end.